Veterinary hospital to care for headless cock
A headless fighting cock, found still alive and roaming around a temple in Ratchaburi province this week, will be sent for treatment at the Nakhon Pathom’s Farm Animal Hospital under Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, provincial governor Chayawuth Chantorn said on Wednesday.
Experts would be asked to treat the cross-breed cock, which was initially released in the grounds of Wat Mahathat Worawihan and was attacked by other chickens and then bitten by a dog until a large chunk of its face, including its beak, went missing.
The cock was left with a rotting tongue dangling from its neck and was unable to eat by itself, so local people fed it, thus keeping it alive.
Chayawuth visited the cock, named Boonma, at the Ratchaburi Animal Hospital in Muang district along with Phra Noppong Thitithammo who found the bird. Phra Noppong said he named it “Boonma” (protected by merit) as it seemed to have undergone a lot of suffering.
Ratchaburi veterinarian Supakdee Aranthong said the cock’s condition had been stable since it was admitted. As its wounds had apparently dried, a veterinarian may have to conduct surgery to remove the rotting tongue. “With proper care and feeding via tube, this cock may live a long time,” she added.